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Former Black Ram restaurant to reopen under new management

The former Black Ram Steakhouse in Des Plaines, which went belly up after 40 years in business, is slated to reopen soon with a similar name but under new management, city officials confirmed Monday.

The new owner, Chicago-based RVI Enterprise LLC, has applied for a liquor license with the city, a city official said.

Business owner George Urdov said he expects to reopen the Black Ram restaurant sometime in August. It will not be a steakhouse like the previous eatery, he said.

The upscale restaurant at 1414 Oakton St. closed in March 2009 after the state suspended its liquor license for the owner's failure to pay taxes on the property. The family-owned business had been struggling for a while and couldn't survive the economic downturn, former owner Nicholas Liapes of Park Ridge said at the time.

The 8,888-square-foot restaurant has been at that location since 1969. It sits on a 50,865-square-foot lot, previously valued at $1.47 million, which was auctioned off by the bank in November 2011. The selling price is not known, but the minimum bid was $300,000.

The property includes parking for more than 100 cars.

  The Black Ram Restaurant in Des Plaines is reopening next month under new management. The longtime dining staple closed in 2009 after the state suspended its liquor license for failing to pay taxes. Dave Dvorak/ddvorak@dailyherald.com
  The Black Ram Restaurant in Des Plaines is reopening next month under new management. The longtime dining staple closed in 2009 after the state suspended its liquor license for failing to pay taxes. Dave Dvorak/ddvorak@dailyherald.com
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